Julius Carlyle Powell Papers

Finding Aid & Inventory

Manuscripts and personal documents of the missonary and Wake Forest alumni Julius Carlyle (J.C.) Powell. This collection includes personal correspondence dating from 1944-1977 reflecting on his missionary work in Africa, business correspondence from 1940-1984, exercise and prayer books, sermons, newspaper articles, memo books, photographs and financial information. This collection also includes oversized items such as posters and several hand-made farwell addresses to Reverend and Mrs. Powell.

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Biographical and Historical Note

Julius Carlyle (J.C.) Powell (1890-1974) of Warsaw, NC was an alumni of Wake Forest College and a Baptist missionary to Africa. Before going overseas, Powell preached at Fremon and Snow Hill. In 1919 he married Rosa Hocutt of Ashton. In 1920 Reverend and Mrs. Powell set sail for Nigeria, Africa where they would continue their missionary work for the next 37 years. While in Nigeria (Shaki and Oyo), Powell served as a missionary adviser for the mission churches and was given the nickname "Master Builder" for building more churches than any other missionary who served in that field. Because of their outstanding work the Powells' were invited to visit Nigeria as guests of the country's Western Region during independence celebrations in 1960. J.C. Powell died in 1974 and Rosa Powell died in 1982.

Collection Overview

The Julius Carlyle Powell collection (1890-1982) is comprised of personal documents, which include his marriage license to Rosa Hocutt in 1919, a funeral tape, his diploma, various writings, exercise and prayer books, and personal travel documents. Personal correspondence is also included in the collection: letters written to the Powells' while in Africa from approximately 1944-1955, letters sent from the Powells', while in Africa, to the US from about 1955-1977, and letters to his wife and daughter (Mary Hester) from 1966-1974. Other personal momentos include photographs, school materials, ledgers (1953), and sermons. A series of drafts of the manuscripts "The Combination Will" and "Tippy Tarlton" are included. There are also other miscellaneous writings from J.C. Powell throughout the collection. The collection also has a series of oversized items. These oversized items include Nigerian posters, school materials (oversized booklets), and several versions of a farewell address to both Reverend and Mrs. Powell upon retiring from their work in Nigeria in 1952.